Location: Lecce
Top Things to do in Lecce
Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Lecce, Puglia
Lecce (Italian: [ˈlettʃe] ( listen) or locally [ˈlɛttʃe]; Sicilian: Lecci, Griko: Luppìu, Latin: Lupiae, Ancient Greek: Λουπίαι) is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Lecce, the second province in the region by population, as well as one of the most important cities of Apulia. It is the main city of the Salentine Peninsula, a sub-peninsula at the heel of the Italian Peninsula and is over 2,000 years old.
Restaurants in Lecce
1. Basilica di Santa Croce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,258 reviews
Reviewed By GRS-SJS - Sebastopol, United States
Lecce is a true center piece of Baroque architecture. The Basilica a excellent example of this style. You really need to stand and study the building with your eyes as you would a piece of art.
2. Chiesa di Santa Chiara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 193 reviews
Reviewed By coconutugly - Marbella, Spain
This is a Lecce baroque masterpiece, beautiful facade with a majestic high altar and six side chapels. Look up , because the ceiling is papier-mache, a false ceiling of the 18th century. For me , just WOW
3. Chiesa di San Matteo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 290 reviews
Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel
The Chiesa di San Matteo building, according to travelers’ guidebooks, is the "Most Daring" Baroque Design building found in Lecce. The exterior of the church is incredibly special and most impressive. The contents of the church is incredibly and extraordinary rich. During our visits in many Italian churches we have visited up to now, this church is "IN THE OPENING FIVE" in all areas. "A must-visit that should NOT 2 B MISSED."
4. Duomo di Lecce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,562 reviews
Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel
One of the most impressive churches we visited during our long trip to Italy. A most impressive church both in the exterior structure and especially in the incredible richness of all the works of art that fill the interior space of this amazing church. Very impressive and highly recommended.
5. Chiesa di Sant'Irene
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 268 reviews
Reviewed By Tillyman
The church of St Irene is actually simpler and thus more beautiful inside than many of the others in Lecce which are so overwhelming that eventually you have had enough of Baroque.
6. Anfiteatro Romano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,009 reviews
Reviewed By Seeking_True_Quality
The visible, smaller part of this amphitheatre was discovered and excavated in the early XX. century by the archaeologist Cosimo De Giorgi, while the larger part is obviously still buried under the buildings around the Piazza Sant'Oronzo. Although the upper structure is not preserved, we were impressed by the size of it. It has been estimated that its capacity was 25000 seats. The ancient Lupiae, the predecessor of Lecce must have been a very important settlement!
7. Museo Faggiano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 680 reviews
Reviewed By 788lc - Derbyshire, United Kingdom
We loved this fascinating private museum near the Biagio Gate. Layers of history hidden below an old Lecce house, discovered by the owners by accident. The owner's son was very helpful and friendly, explaining how they uncovered the layers, going right back to Roman times. Well worth a visit, and a great view from the Templar watchtower at the top of the house.
8. Museo Ferroviario della Puglia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 152 reviews
The Railway Museum of Apulia Lecce is an important collection of tools and other objects that are ideally trace the history of railway Puglia. Inside are 32 antique vehicles of mixed age and several railway companies, from FS to FSE passing the Tobacco Factory of Lecce, in addition to this you can also see up close the historic train "Salento Express".
Reviewed By Tonytourist - Montesson, France
Located near the main station, it's only open a few hours a day so check before you go. We enjoyed the model trains and the prison wagon in particular. There's a good guide book provided with the entrance fee.
9. Abbazia di Santa Maria di Cerrate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By cordyroy - Naples, United States
Our visit to this small formet abbey was very pleasant. its about 15 min drive from Lecce. The new displays show what the origional frescos looked like, what happened to them over time and what is being done to preserve them. The ladies at the ticket counter are very nice and helpful.
10. Musa - Museo Storico Archeologico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
MUSA is an University Museum that exhibits archaeological remains from Prehistory to Middle Ages together with reconstrunctions of ancient contexts and multimedia contributions. Its innovative exhibition shows the research activities conducted in Salento and in other areas of the Mediterranean basin (Malta, Sudan, Turkey, Syria, Iran) by the archaeologists and historians of the University of Salento
